Hair cutting apparatus

ABSTRACT

The specification discloses a hair cutting apparatus having a cutting head in which a comb element is presented generally tangentially to the head with the teeth pointing upwardly. A clipper is swingable over the comb element on the side facing away from the head while a rake is swingable in timed relation to the comb element on the side of the comb element facing the head to control the length to which the hair is cut. A support framework for the cutting head causes it to move in succession in angularly related vertical planes passing through the vertical axis of the head from a lower region of the head up to about the center of the top of the head and then back down. During upward movement of the cutting head, the clipper and rake operate while the cutting head advances step by step while downward movement of the cutting head is a continuous motion with the clipper and rake resting in an idle position. A prerecorded program is employed to control all of the motions of the apparatus.

United States Patent Berry 51 *July 25, 1972 [54] HAIR CUTTING APPARATUS Ronald G. Berry, 135 E. Woodland, Fort Wayne, lnd. 46803 [72] Inventor:

[ Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to March 16, 1988, has been disclaimed.

[22] Filed: Aug. 20, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 65,472

521 US. Cl. ..132/45 R 1 ....A45d 24/36 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant ExaminerGregory E. McNeill Att0rney.leffers 8L Rickert 57] ABSTRACT The specification discloses a hair cutting apparatus having a cutting head in which a comb element is presented generally tangentially to the head with the teeth pointing upwardly. A clipper is swingable over the comb element on the side facing away from the head while a rake is swingable in timed relation to the comb element on the side of the comb element facing the head to control the length to which the hair is cut. A support framework for the cutting head causes it to move in succession in angularly related vertical planes passing through the vertical axis of the head from a lower region of the head up to about the center of the top of the head and then back down. During upward movement of the cutting head, the clipper and rake operate while the cutting head advances step by step while downward movement of the cutting head is a continuous motion with the clipper and rake resting in an idle position. A prerecorded program is employed to control all of the motions of the apparatus.

19 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented July 25, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4

w aw i NBRQ E Mm W .TAWFH O 6 WJ F M h O Patentod July 25, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VENTOQ QouALo G. BERRH M JeFFeRsQmKsRr AHov-neyS HAIR CUTTING APPARATUS RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is an improvement upon the inventors copending application Ser. No. 773,443 entitled Method and Apparatus for Treating Hair, filed Nov. 5, 1968, and now US. Pat. No. 3,570,500; and Ser. No. 868,794 entitled Method and Apparatus for Treating Hair", filed Oct. 23, 1969.

This invention relates to an apparatus for cutting hair and in particular to an apparatus of this nature which is fully automatic in operation.

The cutting of hair is usually done manually with the expenditure of considerable time and is, at best, a laborious operation. The present invention proposes the provision of an apparatus which will carry out this work operation entirely automatically under the control of a prerecorded pattern. The device according to the present invention is adapted to operate relatively rapidly and, as opposed to prior devices of this nature, is capable of reproducing a desired pattern accurately.

A particular object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus of the nature referred to which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and will be automatic and reliable in operation.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus of the nature referred to which is capable of reproducing, with considerable accuracy, substantially any desired style of hair cut.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of the nature referred to which closely duplicates the manner in which hair is presently cut manually.

The foregoing objects as well as still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following detailed specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic perspective view showing the entire apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through a part of the apparatus and is indicated by line II-Il on FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a ratchet arrangement forming a part of the device as viewed on line III-III of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view indicated by line lVIV on FIG. I showing another part of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line v-V of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 schematically shows the control circuit for controlling the device.

GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a hair cutting apparatus in which the individual whose hair is being cut is seated in a chair which includes a chin rest so that the head is accurately located. The chair carries a support frame extending upwardly and over the seat of the chair and defining a vertical pivot axis passing through about the center of the head.

Rotatably carried by the support frame on the aforementioned axis is a support bracket which defines a horizontal pivot axis also passing through about the center of the head. Rotatably mounted on the last mentioned axis is an angular arm which extends to the head and includes an upwardly directed comb element. Swingable over the comb element is a clipper and swingable beneath the comb element is a rake.

When the comb element is moved upwardly along the head it engages hair between the teeth thereof and as the rake element swings transversely of the comb element on the head side thereof, the hair is drawn out from the comb element. The clipper also swings laterally of the comb element on the side opposite the head and in timed relation to the rake so that the hair is cut off at the proper length.

The assembly comprising the comb element, the rake element and the clipper is movable upwardly about the second mentioned axis step by step to about the top center of the head. At this point the bracket is indexed about the first mentioned axis and then the arm is swung downwardly in a single motion to a lower position, whereupon the angular arm again moves upwardly step by step. When the mechanism has transversed the complete 360 about the first mentioned axis, a hair cutting operation is completed.

The motions of the several movable parts of the device are under the control of solenoids and energization of the solenoids is affected by a circuit which is controlled by the output from a recording, such as a tape recorder, which has had the desired pattern of the hair cut prerecorded thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, in F IG. 1, 10 indicates the seat for the individual whose hair is to be cut and pivotally mounted on one arm thereof is a vertical shaft 12 that carries the horizontally extending chin rest 14 having a recess 16 in which the chin of the individual is received. Advantageously, the chin rest member is adjustable vertically in the arm and is clamped in its adjusted vertical and in rotated positions by clamp screw 18.

Fixedly secured to the frame of the seat 10 extending upwardly therefrom is a support frame comprising vertical member 20 and vertically adjustable thereon, at the top, is a horizontal arm 22. A clamp screw 24 secures arm 22 in desired positions of vertical adjustment on support member 20. At its free end, arm 22 carries a bearing 26 defining a vertical axis on which a shaft 27 is supported. This vertical axis is indicated at A and passes about through the vertical central axis of the head of the individual whose hair is to be cut.

Shaft 27 at its upperend is provided with a ratchet drive 28 which is actuated by solenoid 29 in one direction and in the opposite direction by a spring 30. Energization of solenoid 29 will move the drive member of the ratchet through a predetermined angle and when the solenoid is de-energized, the spring 30 will return the ratchet to its initial position and which position may be determined by an adjustable abutment screw 32.

By adjusting the abutment screw 32, the particular amount of indexing of shaft 27 on each occasion of energization of solenoid 29 can be adjusted. On the lower end of shaft 27 there is carried a support bracket 34 extending laterally away from shaft 27 then downwardly and having mounted on its lower end a bearing block 36 which defines a second axis of rotation marked B. Axis B extends horizontally and through about the horizontal central axis of the head.

Mounted in block 36 on axis B is a shaft 38 which carries, at the end facing axis A, a disc 40 of magnetic material. Rotatably mounted on shaft 38 on the side of disc 40 opposite axis A is a sleeve 42 to which is connected an angular arm consisting of a portion 44 extending upwardly from sleeve 42.

At the upper end of portion 44 is a shaft 46, which may be welded to arm 44 and which extends laterally toward axis A and has fixed thereto a still further portion 48. Portion 48 extends downwardly at an angle from shaft 46 and at its lower end has a short portion 50 extending toward the head of an individual seated in seat 10. At the terminous of portion 50, there is a still further portion 52 which is in the form of a comb element.

In portion 50 of the angular arm, there is rotatably mounted a shaft 54 which carries a disc 56 of adjacent portion 50. Rotatably supported on shaft 54 on the head side portion 50 is a clipper 58 adapted to swing laterally of comb element 52 from one side thereof to the other and on the side of the comb element facing away from the individuals head. Also rotatable on shaft 54 is a rake element 60 positioned on the side of the comb element facing the head and also adapted to swing laterally of the comb element.

Carried by clipper 58 is a magnet 62 having a core 64 which will be attracted to disc 56 when magnet 62 is energized. When magnet 62 is de-energized, a tension spring 66 connected between the clipper and arm 48 will return the clipper to a rest position at one side of the comb element.

Similarly, rake element 60 carries a magnet 68 having a core 70 adapted, upon energization of the magnet, drivingly to engage disc 56 while de-energization of magnet 68 will permit spring 72 to return the rake element to a rest position at the same side of the comb element as the rest position of clipper 58.

Returning to sleeve 42, fixed thereto at the end opposite disc 40 is a rachet wheel 74 which is spring urged in one direction by tension spring 76. The movement of ratchet wheel 74 under the influence of spring 76 is under the control of pawl elements 78 which are under the control of a solenoid 80.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the structure involving magnetic disc 40, shaft 38 and ratchet wheel 74 and its pawls will be more clearly seen. In this view, it will be seen that arm or bracket 44 may be fixed to sleeve 42 as by welding and that on this arm is an electromagnet 82 which may be movable in parallelism with itself on the arm due to the support links 84 between arm 44 and the electromagnet. When the coil of electromagnet 82 is energized, it swings to the left in FIG. 2 and drivingly engages disc 40 so that rotation of disc 40 will cause arm 44 to rotate about axis B while de-energization of the electromagnet will release the arm from driving engagement with the disc so that spring 85 can retract it from the disc.

Turning now to FIG. 3, it will be noted that when arm 44 is driven by disc 40, pawl elements 78a and 78b will step over the teeth 86 of the ratchet wheel as the wheel moves counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 3, and will prevent clockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel by spring 76. The pawls are freely pivoted ona shaft 88 and beneath the pawls are individual actuating elements, 900 for pawl 78a and 90b for pawl 78b.

The actuating elements 90a and 90b are mounted on a common shaft 92 rotatably supported on arm or bracket 34 and urged in one direction by a tension spring 94 and adapted for being rotated in the other direction by energization of solenoid 80. When solenoid 80 is energized, the armature thereof moves downwardly fromits FIGS. 3 position and this will cause element 90b. to lift pawl 78b from a tooth space while causing element 90a to release pawl 78a to drop into the next booth space.

The working ends of the pawls 78a and 78b are offset circumferentially about one-half a tooth space so that energization of solenoid 80 will permit spring 76 to advance ratchet wheel 74 of one-half step. Upon de-energization of solenoid 80, spring 94 will return the actuating elements to their FIG. 3 position thereby lifting pawl 780 from the tooth space which it engages and permitting pawl 78b to drop into the tooth space and ratchet wheel 74 will index another half tooth space.

In operation, commencing with the rake element 60 at about the top dead center of the head, energization of electromagnet 82 will cause the angular arm and the entire structure connected thereto to swing downwardly until electromagnet 82 is de-energized. The entire structure will now remain in its lower position and will be released for upward movement under the influence of spring 76 in a step by step manner as determined by the energization and de-energization of solenoid 80.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the structure of the comb element 52, the rake element 60 and the clipper 58 is illustrated. In FIG. 4 is will be noted that comb element 52 is adapted for assuming an angle of about to to the tangent to the head being cut, the said tangent being indicated at T. Between the comb element 52 and the head the relatively thin rake element 60 is disposed and on the opposite side of the comb element from the head is the cutting blade endof clipper 58. The rake element has a somewhat scalloped leading edge so hair will not slip laterally thereon.

As will be seen in FIG. 5, the rest positions of the rake 60 and clipper 58 is at one and the same side of comb element 52 and comb element 52 is provided with an uninterrupted portion 98 in this rest position so that the clipper, in particular, is shielded from the head. Considering FIG. 5, it will be appreciated that if the comb element is moved upwardly, hair will be engaged by the teeth thereof and if clipper 58 is swung laterally while running, the hair will be cut off close to the outer face of the comb element.

However, if the rake element 60 is actuated so as to move in advance of the clipper 58, the hair is at least partly drawn out from the comb element before it is engaged by the clipper and is thus cut off to a greater length. By operating the rake element and the clipper in timed relation, it will be appreciated that the hair engaged by the comb element can be cut to any desired length.

Inasmuch as one and the same disc 56 drives both the clipper and the rake element as they move transversely of the comb element on a common shaft 54, it will be apparent that precise conditions for a certain hair length can be established and maintained throughout a sweep of the clipper across the comb element.

Shaft 38, at one end of the angular arm, is adapted for being driven in rotation by a motor indicated at M and rotates in the direction of the arrow 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Similarly. shaft 54, at the other end of the angular arm, is adapted for being driven in rotation by a motor M, which may be the same motor, and rotates in the direction of the arrow 102 in FIGS. 1 and 4.

Advantageously, motor M referred to above is the drive motor for a tape recorder with the said motor being indicated at M in FIG. 6.

The path taken by the center of disc 40 during one complete revolution of support bracket 34 on axis A is designated by the dot-dash line El. Similarly, the path taken by comb element 52 when support bracket 34 is in the position shown, follows the path of the dot-dash line E2, specifically, about that portion thereof in the fourth quadrant. When arm 48 pivots on shaft 46, the tips of the comb element 52 will gently ride on the scalp and follow the contour of the head.

FIG. 6 shows an electrical control circuit for the invention and which includes a tape recorder generally designated 104. Tape recorder 104 comprises a pay-ofi' reel 106 and a take-up reel 108 or may be provided with a cartridge according to known practices. The magnetic tape 110 moves past a reading head 2 and a drive capstan 114 connected with the output shaft of motor M.

Motor M is under the control of a switch S1 which is closed to energize the motor and to supply power to the components of the tape player.

The tape recorder is made effective, after motor M is running, in any well-known manner, such as by closing a switch S2 to energize a solenoid 116 which will cause a rubber-like roller 118 to press the tape against capstan 114 while simultaneously causing a pad 120 to press the tape against reading head 1 12.

Reading head 112 supplies an amplifier 122, the output of which is supplied to a coil 124.

Coil 124 is magnetically related to tuned reeds 126, 128, 130, 132, and 134, each of which is turned to a respective frequency so that when coil 124 is energized with a said frequency, the respective reed will close on a contact and bring about energization of a respective relay coil 1260, .a, a, 1320 or 1340, or a combination thereof, if more than one frequency is supplied to the coil.

Each relay controls a respective contact set 126b, 128b, 130b, l32b and 134b, which are respectively in circuit with the coils of solenoids or electromagnets 29, 80, 82, 62 and 68.

An alternating current supply at 136 supplies the electrical power for the electromagnet coils and the pertaining contact sets and, through a full wave rectifier 138, and filter 140 supplies the magnetic reeds and the relay coils in circuit with the reeds.

The alternating current supply at 136 is also connected to the clipper 58 through an on-off switch 53.

In operation, the tape player is operable for effecting energization of electromagnet coils 29 and 82 during one interval so that for each swinging movement of the angular arm the support bracket 34 will index a predetermined amount. While angular arm 44 is disposed so that the comb element 52 is at a lower region of the head, repetitive energization of the coil of electromagnet 80 will bring about step by step movement of the angular arm in the upward direction.

The amount of downward travel of the angular arm is controlled by the duration of the period of energization of electromagnet 82. The uppermost stopped position of the angular arm can be precisely predetermined by the cooperating elements of adjustable abutment means indicated at 150 in FIG. 3. When this position is reached solenoid 80 will be operated one or more additional times to insure that there is not any accumulation of error such as a slight over travel in the positioning of arm 44. During upward step by step movement of the angular arm, the arm will advance upwardly a half step when the coil of electromagnet 80 is energized and another half step when it is de-energized.

In each stopped position of the angular arm during the upward movement thereof, or on each alternate stopped position thereof, the coil of electromagnet 62 of the clipper is energized which will couple the clipper to drive disc 56 and cause it to swing laterally of the comb element and carry out a cutting operation.

For determining the length to which the hair is cut, the coil of electromagnet 68 is energized to couple the rake element 60 to drive disc 56 so that it will swing laterally of the comb element and draw the hair out between the comb element and the head. The clipper and rake element are driven by the same drive disc 56 and thus move at the same speed so that by controlling the interval between the instant that the rake element is coupled to disc 56 and the instant that clipper 58 is coupled to disc 56, the exact length to which the hair is cut can be determined.

In short, the amount by which rake element 60 leads clipper 58 when both thereof are being driven by disc 56 determines the length to which the hair is cut. For an extremely short cut, the rake element 60 would not move during a clipping operation, but for longer lengths of cut, the rake element would lead the clipper by a greater or lesser amount.

The particular style to which the hair is to be cut is prerecorded on the magnetic tape and by starting the cutting operation at a predetermined circumferential position about the head, the style of hair cut that has been prerecorded on the tape can be duplicated. Inasmuch as the several shafts in the machine, namely, the capstan 114, shaft 38 and shaft 54 rotate in synchronism, the hair cut style prerecorded on the tape can be reproduced with a high degree of accuracy and in a relatively short time.

It will be apparent that while only a simple tape player actuating a single coil associated with all of the tuned relays is illustrated, it is also contemplated to utilize a multiple channel tape player with a coil connected to each playing head and each coil being associated with a single magnetic relay pertaining to a single contact set. In this last mentioned case, the magnetic relays would not have to be tuned relays since each would be operated by a respective coil.

Modifications may be made within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. In an apparatus for automatically cutting hair on a head located in a predetermined position: a support frame having a first vertical pivot axis passing through about the center of the head, a support bracket carried by said support frame and rotatable on said first axis and having an end spaced radially from the head and having a second horizontal pivot axis extending through about the center of the head, an angular arm having one end rotatably supported by said support bracket on said second axis and having the other end disposed adjacent the head; a cutting and length determining device on said other end of said arm comprising a comb element having upwardly presented teeth generally tangential to the head, a clipper moveable laterally adjacent of said comb element on the side thereof facing away from the head, and a rake element moveable laterally adjacent said comb element on the side thereof facing the head; first means operable for actuating said angular arm about said second axis to carry said device from a lower region of the head upwardly to about the center of the top thereof and then back down, second means operable for actuating said support bracket in indexing movement on said first axis, third means operable for actuating said clipper in movement laterally of said comb element, and fourth means operable for actuating said rake element to cause it to move laterally of said comb element in timed relation to the said movement of said clipper.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said first means includes a rotary drive element on said second axis, first electrically operable means energizable for drivingly connecting said angular arm to said drive element to drive said angular arm downwardly, a spring biasing said arm upwardly, escapement means associated with said arm to control movement thereof upwardly, and second electrically operable means controlling said escapement to provide for step by step movement of said arm upwardly.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which said first electrically operable means comprises a first electromagnet carried by said angular arm and said drive element is in the form ofa drive shaft and a drive disc on'the shaft and adjacent said electromagnet so as to be engaged thereby upon energization of said electromagnet.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which said escapement means comprises a toothed disc on said second axis and fixed to said angular arm, pawls pivoted on a stationary axis and adapted to engage the teeth of said toothed disc to prevent movement of the arm by the spring connected thereto, pawl actuating members operable for making said pawls alternately effective and ineffective, a common shaft to which said pawl actuating members are fixed, a spring biasing said shaft toward a position where one of said pawls is effective and the other ineffective, said second electrical means comprising a second electromagnet connected to said common shaft and energizable for moving said shaft to a position wherein said other pawl is effective and said one pawl is ineffective, said pawls engaging said disc at peripherally spaced points whereby alternate actuation of said pawls provides for step by step movement of said angular arm upwardly.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 in which said positions are so spaced as to provide for movement of said toothed disc about one-half tooth space on each said step.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said second means comprises a ratchet drive between said support bracket and said support frame, and third electrical means connected to said ratchet drive and energizable for actuating said ratchet drive.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 in which said third electrical means comprises a third electromagnet connected for actuating the ratchet drive in one direction and a spring connected to said ratchet drive for actuation thereof in the opposite direction.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 which includes adjustable stop means associated with said ratchet drive for adjustment of the amount of indexing movement imparted to said support bracket each time said third electromagnet is energized.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said third means comprises a second rotary drive element on said angular arm, fourth electrical means energizable for drivingly connecting said clipper to said second drive element for moving said clipper in cutting direction laterally of said comb element, and a spring connected between said arm and clipper for moving the clipper in the opposite direction.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 in which said fourth electrical means comprises a fourth electromagnet mounted on said clipper and said drive element comprises a second drive shaft rotatable in said arm and a second drive disc thereon adjacent said fourth electromagnet, the pivot axis for said clipper coinciding with the axis of said second drive shaft.

l 1. An apparatus according to claim 10 in which said fourth means comprises a fifth electromagnet carried by said rake element and energizable for drivingly connecting said rake element to said second drive disc for movement of the rake element in the same direction relative to said comb element as taken by said clipper during a cutting operation, and a spring biasing said rake element in the opposite direction, the pivot axis of said rake element coinciding with the axis of said second drive shaft.

12.'An apparatus according to claim 11 in which each of said clipper and rake element has a stopped retracted position at one side of said comb element to which they are moved by the respective section springs, said comb element being free of teeth at said one side so as to shield said clipper.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said first means comprises a first electrically operable means energizable to cause the angular arm to move downwardly and a spring to move the arm upwardly, said second means comprising a ratchet drive for indexing said support bracket and a second electrically operable means and a return spring for said ratchet drive, said third means comprising a third electrically operable means energizable for causing said clipper to move in cutting direction and a return spring to return the clipper, said fourth means comprising fourth electrically operable means energizable to cause said rake element to move in the cutting direction of said clipper and a spring to return the rake element, an escapement controlling upward movement of said arm, fifth electrically operable means energizable for actuating said escapement into one position and a spring to move the escapement to the other position thereof, and control means controlling the energization of said electrically operable means.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 in which said control means includes a contact set in circuit with each electrically operable means, a magnetic relay for each contact set, coil means operatively associated with said relays, and tape player means connected to supply said coil means.

15. An apparatus according to claim- 14 in which said first means includes a first drive shaft to which said angular arm is coupled for movement in downward direction, said third and fourth means including a second drive shaft to which said clipper and rake element are coupled for movement in the cutting direction of said clipper, said tape player means comprising a capstan for driving the tape in the player, and motor means for driving said first and second drive shafts and said capstan in synchronism.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 in which said motor means is in the form of a single motor connected to said shafts and capstan.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15 in which said control means is operable to energize said first and second electrically operable means during a first interval to index said support bracket and to move said angular arm downwardly to place said comb element at a lower position, said control means being operable during a second interval to energize said fifth electrically operable means repetitively to provide for step by step upward movement of said arm and comb element, said control means also being operable during said second interval to energize at least said third electrically operable means during periods that said fifth electrically operable means is not energized.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15 in which said control means is operable to energize said first and second electrically operable means during a first interval to index to said support bracket and to move said angular arm downwardly to place said comb element at a lower position, said control means being operable during a second interval to energize said fifth electrically operable means repetitively to provide for step by step upward movement of said arm and comb element, said control means also being operable during said second interval to energize said third and fourth electrically operable means during periods that said fifth electrically operable means is not energized.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18 in which said control means is operable for initiating energization of said fourth electrically operable means prior to the energization of said third electrically operable means to cause said rake element to lead said clipper a predetermined amount during movement of said clipper in cutting direction. 

1. In an apparatus for automatically cutting hair on a head located in a predetermined position: a support frame having a first vertical pivot axis passing through about the center of the head, a support bracket carried by said support frame and rotatable on said first axis and having an end spaced radially from the head and having a second horizontal pivot axis extending through about the center of the head, an angular arm having one end rotatably supported by said support bracket on said second axis and having the other end disposed adjacent the head; a cutting and length determining device on said other end of said arm comprising a comb element having upwardly presented teeth generally tangential to the head, a clipper moveable laterally adjacent of said comb element on the side thereof facing away from the head, and a rake element moveable laterally adjacent said comb element on the side thereof facing the head; first means operable for actuating said angular arm about said second axis to carry said device from a lower region of the head upwardly to about the center of the top thereof and then back down, second means operable for actuating said support bracket in indexing movement on said first axis, third means operable for actuating said clipper in movement laterally of said comb element, and fourth means operable for actuating said rake element to cause it to move laterally of said comb element in timed relation to the said movement of said clipper.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said first means includes a rotary drive element on said second axis, first electrically operable means energizable for drivingly connecting said angular arm to said drive element to drive said angular arm downwardly, a spring biasing said arm upwardly, escapement means associated with said arm to control movement thereof upwardly, and second electrically operable means controlling said escapement to provide for step by step movement of said arm upwardly.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which said first electrically operable means comprises a first electromagnet carried by said angular arm and said drive element is in the form of a drive shaft and a drive disc on the shaft and adjacent said electromagnet so as to be engaged thereby upon energization of said electromagnet.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which said escapement means comprises a toothed disc on said second axis and fixed to said angular arm, pawls pivoted on a stationary axis and adapted to engage the teeth of said toothed disc to prevent movement of the arm by the spring connected thereto, pawl actuating members operable for making said pawls alternately effective and ineffective, a common shaft to which said pawl actuating members are fixed, a spring biasing said shaft toward a position where one of said pawls is effective and the other ineffective, said second electrical means comprising a second electromagnet connected to said common shaft and energizable for moving said shaft tO a position wherein said other pawl is effective and said one pawl is ineffective, said pawls engaging said disc at peripherally spaced points whereby alternate actuation of said pawls provides for step by step movement of said angular arm upwardly.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 in which said positions are so spaced as to provide for movement of said toothed disc about one-half tooth space on each said step.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said second means comprises a ratchet drive between said support bracket and said support frame, and third electrical means connected to said ratchet drive and energizable for actuating said ratchet drive.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6 in which said third electrical means comprises a third electromagnet connected for actuating the ratchet drive in one direction and a spring connected to said ratchet drive for actuation thereof in the opposite direction.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 7 which includes adjustable stop means associated with said ratchet drive for adjustment of the amount of indexing movement imparted to said support bracket each time said third electromagnet is energized.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said third means comprises a second rotary drive element on said angular arm, fourth electrical means energizable for drivingly connecting said clipper to said second drive element for moving said clipper in cutting direction laterally of said comb element, and a spring connected between said arm and clipper for moving the clipper in the opposite direction.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 9 in which said fourth electrical means comprises a fourth electromagnet mounted on said clipper and said drive element comprises a second drive shaft rotatable in said arm and a second drive disc thereon adjacent said fourth electromagnet, the pivot axis for said clipper coinciding with the axis of said second drive shaft.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 10 in which said fourth means comprises a fifth electromagnet carried by said rake element and energizable for drivingly connecting said rake element to said second drive disc for movement of the rake element in the same direction relative to said comb element as taken by said clipper during a cutting operation, and a spring biasing said rake element in the opposite direction, the pivot axis of said rake element coinciding with the axis of said second drive shaft.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 11 in which each of said clipper and rake element has a stopped retracted position at one side of said comb element to which they are moved by the respective section springs, said comb element being free of teeth at said one side so as to shield said clipper.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said first means comprises a first electrically operable means energizable to cause the angular arm to move downwardly and a spring to move the arm upwardly, said second means comprising a ratchet drive for indexing said support bracket and a second electrically operable means and a return spring for said ratchet drive, said third means comprising a third electrically operable means energizable for causing said clipper to move in cutting direction and a return spring to return the clipper, said fourth means comprising fourth electrically operable means energizable to cause said rake element to move in the cutting direction of said clipper and a spring to return the rake element, an escapement controlling upward movement of said arm, fifth electrically operable means energizable for actuating said escapement into one position and a spring to move the escapement to the other position thereof, and control means controlling the energization of said electrically operable means.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 13 in which said control means includes a contact set in circuit with each electrically operable means, a magnetic relay for each contact set, coil means operatively associated with said relays, and tape plaYer means connected to supply said coil means.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 14 in which said first means includes a first drive shaft to which said angular arm is coupled for movement in downward direction, said third and fourth means including a second drive shaft to which said clipper and rake element are coupled for movement in the cutting direction of said clipper, said tape player means comprising a capstan for driving the tape in the player, and motor means for driving said first and second drive shafts and said capstan in synchronism.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 15 in which said motor means is in the form of a single motor connected to said shafts and capstan.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 15 in which said control means is operable to energize said first and second electrically operable means during a first interval to index said support bracket and to move said angular arm downwardly to place said comb element at a lower position, said control means being operable during a second interval to energize said fifth electrically operable means repetitively to provide for step by step upward movement of said arm and comb element, said control means also being operable during said second interval to energize at least said third electrically operable means during periods that said fifth electrically operable means is not energized.
 18. An apparatus according to claim 15 in which said control means is operable to energize said first and second electrically operable means during a first interval to index to said support bracket and to move said angular arm downwardly to place said comb element at a lower position, said control means being operable during a second interval to energize said fifth electrically operable means repetitively to provide for step by step upward movement of said arm and comb element, said control means also being operable during said second interval to energize said third and fourth electrically operable means during periods that said fifth electrically operable means is not energized.
 19. An apparatus according to claim 18 in which said control means is operable for initiating energization of said fourth electrically operable means prior to the energization of said third electrically operable means to cause said rake element to lead said clipper a predetermined amount during movement of said clipper in cutting direction. 